When Faith And Politics Collide - Into The Mystic

When people fast (for Lent for example), it's to deny ourselves of something or some-things that we like. Otherwise, what's the point, right? It's not a sacrifice if we deny ourselves of something we hate. This week's podcast is about a UCC church in Illinois. They decided for this Palm Sunday service that they would fast from "whiteness", and only play music composed by non-white composers - sacrificing music they love and usually play to celebrate music that they may not play as often. Well, the right wing media picked up on this and a firestorm ensued, calling the church "racist". But doesn't the term "racist" imply hate, or at least, dislike? If they were sacrificing "white" music in order to play "non-white" music for a day, doesn't it mean that they "like" and have comfort with what they were sacrificing, simply to celebrate the other? Where is the controversy here? UCC General Minister and President, the Rev. John C. Dorhauer, attended that Palm Sunday service, and offers his reflections on the "news" that certain right wing media created from it. Listen to the podcast...